A children’s book, written by a new Manx author and illustrated by a Manx artist, has been launched in Douglas today, based on a true story about how a rabbit taught a mute boy to speak for the first time.

“Bumble Big Ears and a Boy Called Eddie” is the first book to be written by Sandy Huyton of Douglas, founder of the ‘Dolittle’s’ animal therapy voluntary organisation.

The main illustrations in the book are also a first publication for Manx-born illustrator and University graduate Alex McPherson, of Laurel Bank, St John’s.

Dolittle’s has been visiting schools, special needs groups and the elderly all over the Island for the last three years, providing a free therapy service - with an emphasis on children with special needs and autism.

It was on one of the visits, to a local primary school, that one of the Dolittle’s therapy rabbits, a dwarf lop-eared rabbit called ‘Bumble Big Ears’, became the subject of attention from a small boy who was mute, never having spoken since birth.

The boy spent a long time holding the rabbit, until it was time for Bumble Big Ears to go back into his carrying basket to go home, when the boy spoke the first word of his life and said the word “Bumble”. The moment unlocked his mutism and he has since learned to speak normally. The boy’s identity and the name of the school has been protected.

The story is the basis of Sandy Huyton’s book which is now on display at The Strand Shopping Centre during the school half term week, from Thursday, November 1st through to Tuesday, November 6th. All the illustrations by children from Special Needs Units at the Island’s primary schools are also part of the display at The Strand, from 11.30am each day.